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09/21/2011

NHL Conference Realignment??

Come December the NHL plans to rearrange the alignment of its conferences due to the Atlanta Thrashers relocating to Winnipeg. As of now, Winnipeg finds itself in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Winnipeg has been already been told they will hold a spot in the Western Conference come the 2012/2013 season.

The realignment could be more of an adjustment, meaning there is a possibility a team currently in the West could just swap with Winnipeg. The problem, however, is that there are other teams hoping to swap conferences as well. Detroit, Nashville and Columbus are all hoping to get into the Eastern Conference and all have provided their reasons.

One possibility to resolve the issue would be to totally wipe out the current format and create a four-conference league. If the NHL did in fact move to a four-conference league, two of those conferences would feature eight teams and the other two conferences would feature seven. Also, the playoff format would have to make some major adjustments if the league divided into four conferences.

While it seems like a lot of work, it may make sense for some teams that are finding themselves traveling a bit more than the other teams. It may cut travel time and costs down for some of these organizations. Either way, there are many logical solutions and possibilities that the NHL and its GM’s will explore. The only issue is resolving it all by December so the NHL can make the 2012/2013 schedule.

How do all of you NHL fans feel about this and would you like to see your club in a different conference?